Lock



April 24,1945. Y R, MARPQ 2,374,223

LOCK

Original Filed Oct; 20. 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY 3 g 5/2 I; E an 5Y5.

Patented Apr. 24, 1945 LOCK Rollo Marple, Jackson, Mich., assignor to Hancock Manufacturing Company, Jackson, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Original application October 20, 1938, Serial No.

235,982, now Patent No. 2

her 10, 1942.

301,221, dated Novem- Divided and this application October 5, 1942, Serial No. 460,772

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to latching devices for closures, and in particular provides an improved latch construction for vehicle doors.

This application is a division of applicants copending application, Serial No. 235,982, filed October 20, 1938, now Patent No. 2,301,221, granted November 10, 1942.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide an improved latch of the above generally indicated character, particularly adapted for, but not limited to, use in connection with vehicle doors, characterized as being simple in construction, economical of manufacture, and extremely durable and efiicient in operation; to provide a latch of the rotary bolt type, embodying an improved actuating connection between the in side and outside door operating handles and the bolt actuating means; to provide a latch of the rotary bolt type embodying improved means operable from within the vehicle for locking the inside and outside handles against actuation; to provide improved means actuated by the bolt for releasing the locking means; to provide a door latch embodying improved means for supporting an actuating spindle in relation to the latch casing; to provide a door latch embodying means for wedgingly retaining the spindle against rattling, and including spring means for urging the handle to a predetermined position; and to generally improve the construction and operation of vehicle door latches.

With the above as well as other objects in view, which appear in the following description and in the appended claims, a preferred but illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, throughout the several views of which corresponding reference characters are used to designate corresponding parts and in which:

Figure l is a View in elevation, illustrating the application of the-invention to automobile doors:

Fig. 2 is a view in transverse section, taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in vertical section, taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation, taken along the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 5 and 6 are comparative views, Fig. 5 being a view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a view in vertical section, taken along the line 1-1 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a detail view in section, taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a detailed fragmentary view, taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a comparativeview, illustrating the parts shown in Fig. 4, but with the locking cams in the retracted position thereof.

The improved latch, which issecured within the door of the associated vehicle, comprises generally a casing member 22; a rotary bolt 24; a plurality of cams designated collectively as 26, for holding the bolt against rotation in a dooropening direction; an outside operated rollback means/designated as a whole as 28, for releasing the cams 26 and the bolt 24 in response to movement of the conventional outside handle; and a retracting member 30, which may be connected to the conventional inside door handle or the like (not shown), to release the cams 26 from operative engagement with the bolt. The keeper 32, which is described in more detail below, is suitably secured to the door pillar 24, as by means of bracket 36.

20 The bolt 2!- is rotatably journaled in thelatch casing upon a pin or trunnion 40. One end of the pin 40 is supported in the flange 42 of a bracket 44, which is suitably secured. as by welding, to the flange 46 of the previously identified casing 22. The other end of the pin 40 is supported in a supplemental casing member 48, which is suitably secured to the inner face of the flange 46. The bolt '24 is formed to p rovide a keeperengaging portion 50, which projects externally of the lock casing 22 for cooperation with the keeper 325m inner or cam-engaging portion 52; and a separating fin or vane 54, which is somewhat larger in diameter than the portions and 52,

and serves to substantially close the opening,

which is provided in the flange 46 of the casing 22 to'accommodate the bolt. The lower half of the outwardly projecting portion 50 of the bolt 24 is substantially enclosed by the previously mentioned bracket 44, which is given a substantially semi-cylindrical form for this purpose.

As most clearly appears inFigs. 3 and 7, the outer portion 58 of the bolt 24 is formed to provide a plurality of radially extending equiangular- 1y spaced keeper-engaging teeth or projections a, any one of which is effective, as described hereinafter, to cooperate with the safety catch 60 associated with the keeper, or the keeper portion 62, to hold the door in either the partially closed or safety position, or in the fully closed position, respectively. It will be appreciated that the angular spacing between the projections or teeth 50a relative to the spacing'between the safety catch 6! and the keeper portion 62, is such that the bolt 24 can roll over or cross the keeper in a manner similar to the cooperation between a ear and a rack.

As most clearly appears in Figs. 4, '7 and 10, the inner portion 52 of the bolt 24 is formed to provide a number of dog-engaging teeth or projections 52a, the number and angular spacing between which corresponds to the number and angular spacing of the keeper engaging teeth 59a. The teeth 52a, however, are angularly displaced from the teeth 5911. This relation results in reducing the space requirements for the lock, since the positioning of the cam can thus be determined independently of the'rotative position of the teeth 5911. Each tooth 52a is formed to provide a generally radially extending cam-enga ing portion I54 and a locking portion 66, the purpose whereof is described hereinafter.

The cams 26 are provided to cooperate with the latching portion 66 of the bolt 24 to hold the bolt 24 against rotation in a clockwise, or dooropening direction, as viewed in Figs. 3, 4 and 10.

It is preferred to utilize a plurality of such cams of progressively increasing length, toprovide a take-up action for the latch, as hereinafter described. In the present instance, three cams are illustrated, although a maller or larger number maybe utilized, if desired.

The three cams, designated as a whole at 26, are rotatably supported in the lock casing upon a pin or-trunnion 19, which extends parallel to,

but spaced from, the previously mentioned bolt supporting pin 49. The outer end of the pin 19 is supported in a member 12, the inner flanges 14 whereof are secured to the inner face of the casing flange 46, and the outwardly extending body portion whereofserves, as most clearly appears in Figs. 3 and '7, as a dovetail member. The inner end of thepin 19 issupported in t 9 previously mentione'dsupplemental casing mem ber 48. Each of the three cams, which are individually. designated as 16,18 and 89, includes i.

a downwardly extending. body, which terminates in a laterally offset foot. The cam 16 is slightly longer than the cam 18, andthecam 18 in turn is slightly longer than the cam 99. Each of the cams 1-6', 18 and 89 isprovidedwith a biasin spring 82- individual thereto. One end of each spring is secured between a pair of lugs 84, which areinwardly struck from the casing flange 46, and

the free end of each spring 82 bears against the edge of the associated cam and so continuously urges it in a counterclockwise or locking direction, as viewed in Figs. 4 and 10.

The outside rollback, designated as a whole as 28, embodies an improved arrangement which .1

is .usceptible. of general application, but finds particular utility when utilized in connection with a lock of the present character. In the illustrated instance, the outside rollback 28 comprisesa pair of rollback members 21 and 29. The rollback member 29. is provided with an axially extending boss 3|, which is received androtatably journaled in a corresponding opening provided therefor in the lock casing 22. The companion rollback member 21 is provided with a corresponding axially extending boss 33. which seats within a complemental recess formed in the face of t companion rollback member 29. In accordance with the arrangement disclosed and claimed in Patent No. 1,895,893, granted toRaymond G. Moore, the rollback members 21 and 29 are provided with squared openings therein, which are slightly angularly offset from each other, and which are dimensioned to relatively freely receive thesquared spindle 88 associated with th outside operating handle. With this relation, when the spindle 88 is inserted through the rollback members 21 and 29, they are slightly angularly offset from each other as clearly appears in Figs. 5 and 6. In the present instance, a coil spring 35 surrounds the spindle 88, and one end 31 thereof is laterally turned and passed through registering and correspondingly positioned openings such as 39 provided therefor in each of the rollback members 21 and 29, as most clearly appears in Figs. 8 and 9. The turned portion 31 thus urges the members 21 and 29 into alignment with each other. The other end 39 of the spring 35 extends downwardly and, as most clearly appears in Fig. 4,, is hooked into an opening provided therefor'in the supplemental casing member 46. The spring 35 thus continuously urges the rollback members 21 and 29 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 5 and 6, and, except when these members are actuated by rotation of the spindle 88, holds the inner rollback member 29 in abutting relation to the upper wall of the justmentioned supplemental casing member 4I. A movement of the rollback 28 winds up the sprint 35, and thus renders it effective to apply a substantial restoring force thereto. At the same time, the spring 35 urges the other rollback element 29 in the same direction, tending to bring the two elements into alignment with each other, which action, however, tends to angularly ofiset the squared openings therein with respect to each other, and so wedges the spindle 88 between the two rollback members 21 and 29. This action, as well as serving to retain the outside handle in the normal elevated position shown in Fig. 1, also effectively prevents rattling thereof.

The rollback members 21 and 29 and the spring 35 are held in the assembled relation shown in Fig. 8by a supplemental casing member M which is secured to the base 96 of the case plate. The casing member-has an opening therethrough to accommodate the spindle 98, and fingers 43, which project radially inwardly from the opening, overlie the spring 35.

The outer end of the rollback member 29 normally bears against a laterally turned foot 99 associated with the previously mentioned retracting member 39, and clockwise rotation of the outside rollback mechanism, as influenced by the spindle 88, causes a counterclockwise rotation of such member 39, as viewed in Figs. 5 and 6. which in turn causes a retracting movement of the previously mentioned locking cams 26, as hereinafter described. I

The member 39 is pivotally supported upon the base 86 of the casin 22, by means of a pin I99. One end of the pin I99 is mounted in the base 86 of the casing 22, and the other end thereof is supported by the previously mentioned supplemental casing member 4I. One end I92 of the member 39 is adapted for connection to conventional link mechanism (not shown) which may extend to an inside door-operating handle. The member 39 is also rovided with a foot I94, which normally bears against a foot 94 associated with the cam 89. In order to render the cams 16 and 18 responsive to the movement of the cam 89, as influenced by the just mentioned foot 94 provided thereon. the cam 89 is provided with a laterally turned portion I96, which extends around and behindthe rear edges of the cams 16 and 18. With the just mentioned arrangement, it will be aprpreciatedthat clockwise rotation of themember 39, as influenced either by the outside rollback 28, or by suitable actuation of the inside handle (not 'tion, as viewed in shown), causes the foot I04 on the member 30' to bear downwardly upon and cause downward movement of the foot 94, which action in turn causes all of the cams I6, 78 and 80 to move in a clockwise direction, from the locking position shown in Fig. 4, to the unlatched position shown in Fig. 10. This movement of the cams releases them from the bolt 24, and permits the latter to be rotated in a clockwise or door-opening direction. Upon releasing either the outside rollback 28, or the inside handle (not shown), however, the spring 96 associated with the member 30 becomes effective to rotate the latter in a-clockwise direc- Figs. 5 and 6, to the normal latched position thereof, shown in Fig. 6. This action renders the springs 82 associated with the cams effective to urge them in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 3, 4 and 10, to the normal latching position, shown in Fig. 4.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3,-the keeper 32 comprises a body, which may be and preferably is formed as a relatively heavy metal stamping, and which is formed to define the previously mentioned bolt-engaging surface 62. The previously mentioned safety catch 60 is and may be formed of :a die casting or the like, and is pivotally supported by a pin II4, which extends between and is supported in the opposite side walls of the keeper 32. A spring I I 6 is connected between the catch 60 and the keeper body, and continuously urges the safety catch 60 to the active position shown in Fig. 3. It will be noted that the otherwise continuous body of the keeper 32 is cut away, as indicated at IIB, to afford a slot or opening through which the safety catch 60 may move from the active position shown in Fig. 3, to a retired position. It will also be noted that the back of the safety catch 60 abuts the portion N9 of the body of the keeper 32, so that such portion H9 forms a limit stop to the rotation thereof under the influence of the spring IIB.

Also, as clearly appears in Fig. 3. when the door is in a closed position, the keeper 32 is in a position between the rotary bolt 24 and the pre viously mentioned dovetail member I2. The upper surface of the keeper 32, as well as the under surface of the dovetail member 12, are downwardly inclined in the direction of the door-closing movement. With this relation, the dovetail member tends to serve as a stop to the movement of the keeper 32 in the leftward or door-closing direction, as influenced by the bolt 24. The members 24, 32 and I2, accordingly, function in accordance with the functioning of the usual se parately formed dovetails usually associated with locks of the conventional slidable bolt type, and permits such separate dovetail structures to be dispensed with.

In accordance with the present invention, locking means are (provided for the inside and outside actuating mechanisms, which may be operated between a retracted position permitting free movement of the actuating mechanisms, and a locking position, in which both the inside handle and the outside handle are rendered ineffective. In t e illustrated instance, this locking mechanism comprises an abutment, constituted by a roller member I30, the reduced ends whereof are disposed to ride in registering slots such as I32 formed in the base 86 of casing member 4!. In the retracted position of the locking roller I30, shown in Fig. 6. it is positioned out of the path of movement of the member 50,- and consequently does not interfere with the normal movement thereof. When, however,

the casing 22 and in the 3 the roller I30 is moved downwardly to the locking position shown in Fig. 5, it occupies a position in blocking relation to the extension I34 of the inside retracting member 30, and positively prevents rotation thereof in a counterclockwise or door-unlocking direction.

In the illustrated instance, the roller I30 is arranged f or control by a rod I36, which may extend upwardly from the lock body within the vehicle door 20, and terminates in a button I38 which projects slightly through the garnish mould 20a associated with the door 20. The link I36 is normally retained in either the locking or the unlocking position, by means of a spring I40, which is suitably secured to the flange 86 of the casing 22, and the free end I42 whereof is angularly formed. With this relation, it will be appreciated that the spring I40 is effective to yieldingly hold the roller I30 in either the locking or the unlockin position.

In utilizing an inside locking device, effective to prevent actuation of either the inside or the outside handles, it is preferred to arrange the locking means so a retracting movement of the bolt releases it. This expedient overcomes any difficulty which might otherwise result from the locking button I38 being moved to locking position while the door is open, and the door thereafter closed. Such a closing action under these circumstances would, of course, prevent access to the car through the door in question. In the present instance, the just mentioned release is effected by an additional pivotally mounted 'link I44,

which is carried by the previously mentioned pin I00. Thelink I44 is provided with a nose I46 which is positioned in the path of movement of the locking roller I30, and an additional foot I48, which is positioned in the path of the foot 94 associated with the locking cams I5, I8 and 80. With the parts occupying the positions shown in Fig. 5. it will be recalled that the retracting member 30 is locked against a retracting movement. The cam foot 94 is, however, free to move downwardly through'a normal unlocking movement. Such a movement caused, for example, by closing the door 20 enables the foot 94 to cam the foot 48 downwardly, swinging the nose I46 in a counterclockwise direction.

The counterclockwise movement of the nose I46 cams the roller I30 upwardly far enough to bring it past the angular portion of the spring I40, thus rendering this spring effective to force the locking roller I30 to its fully elevated position, shown in Fig. 6. The downward movement of the cam foot 94 as influenced by a closing movement of the door, brings the link I44 to a position intermediate that shown in Figs. 5 and 6, in which the cam nose I45 thereof extends across the path of the roller I30 but does not block downward movement thereof. According- 1y, following the closure of the door as just described, the roller I32 may again be forced downwardly to the locking position, by operation of the inside button I38.

The lowering movement of the cam foot '94, as influenced by a closing movement of the door, as above described, is, of course, just sufiicient to swing the cams 26 (Fig. 10) far enough to permit the bolt to rotate past the cams. On the other hand, when the outside or inside handle is actuated, as previously descr'bed, to actuate the member 33 and in turn retract the cams 26, a somewhat greater downward movement of the cam foot 94 results, since under these conditions it is desired-to swing the cams 26 to a position entirely .out of .engageable relation with the teeth 452a Inf the'iinner :bolt portion, thus rendering :the :bolt entirely freely rotatable. The additional downward movement of the foot i94 thus .occa- -sioned, swingsthe auxiliary slink further in a counterclockwise direction, and brings it to .a position .in full blocking relation to the roller .130. In order to restore the auxiliaiy link 144 to the intermediate position discussed above, in which the .nose I46 thereof extends across the path of travel of the roller I30 but does not .preventdownward movement thereof, the link I44 is provided with a nose'portion I.50,which,is engageable .by :an .oifset portion I52 formed on the retracting member 30. According1y,'the retracting member 30, which resumes the-position shown in Fig. 5 ;upon release of either the inside or the outside handle, as influenced by the spring :96, is effective to return the auxiliary link I44 to the above mentioned intermediate position.

It is preferred :to provide an externally operatedkey control mechanism to render the outside handle ineffective. For this purpose, a slide I60 is provided, which is guided on the base .86 'of the case plate, and which is provided with a nose I62 for cooperation with a portion I64 of the retracting member 30. When the slide I60 is in the raised position, .shown in Fig. 15, the

nose I62 lies in blocking relation 'to the portion I64 and thus prevents an unlatching movement of the member 30. The slide I60 is controlled by a key operated cam I66, which may be rotated, by suitable key mechanism from the exterior of the door, from the elevated position, shown in Fig. .5,to the retracted position, shown in Fig. 6. In the latter position, the cam Hi6 holds the slide :Ii60 in the lower position in which the nose I62 thereof is out of range of the portion 1164.

Considering the operation as a whole of the above described construction, the partsare shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and '7 in positions occupied thereby when the door .is in a fully or tightly closed position and with the locking roller I in locked position. Under these circumstances, the upper tooth a of the outer portion 50 of the rotary bolt 24 bears solidly against the cooperating surface 62 of the keeper 32, forcibly wedging the latter between the bolt 24 and the dovetailmember 12. At the same time, the foot of .the longest :dog 16 bears solidly against the upper substantially horizontally disposed locking surface 66 associated with the inner portion of the bolt 24. Cam I6 is thus effective to entirely prevent any clockwise rotation of bolt 24, so that the door is positively held in the just-mentioned fully or tightly closed position. To conditionfor normal operation, the locking roller I30 may be moved to the upper position, shown in Fig. 6, and the key slide I450 may be :moved to the lower position, shown in the same figure.

To open the door, either the outside rollback '28, :or the means associated with the inside lhandle (not shown) may be actuated, to rotate the member 30 in a counterclockwise direction from I the-position shown inrFig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. 6. It-will be understood that in the event the actuation of the member 30 is effected by ;means of the inside handle (not shown) the outside rollback 28 remains in the retracted position shown in Fig. 5, in which position it is 'retained by the spring 35. The counterclockwise rotation 'of the member 30, forces the shoulder -94 associated with the cam 30 downwardly, thereby rotating all three of the cams I6, FIB and 6.0

144 somewhat in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 3, 4 and'figi-rom the locking position shown in Fig. '4, to the fully unlocked position. This rotationof the cams, which takes place .in opposition ito'the forces of their associated biasing springs 82, .moves the feet thereof out of range of the teeth 52a of the inner portion of the :rotary bolt 24, thereby permitting the latter to be freely rotated in a clockwise or door-opening direction, in response to the movement thereof over the keep- :er surface 62 and the safety catch 60.

Upon release of the inside member 30, either as a consequence of the release of the outside rollback.28, or as ;a consequence of the release of the inside handle (not shown), which may be expected to .occurshortly after the bolt 24 passes beyond the keeper safety catch '60, the .springs 82 again become effective to return the cams 26 to the positions shown in Fig. 4, in which they are effective to hold the bolt in the corresponding illustrated position. The return movement of the cams also causes the foot 94 to move upwardly to the position shown in Fig. :5 and enables the member 30 ,to resume its normal position shown in the same figure.

During a doorclos'ing movement, the bolt- 24 moves to the right relative to the keeper 32, as viewed in Fig. 3. As the door approaches a partially closed position, corresponding to the conventional safety position, the safety catch 60 engages the right-hand face of the upper tooth 50a associated with the bolt 24. Continued door-closing movement causes the catch 60 to apply a rotative force to the bolt 24. The springs 82,'however, associated with the cams, are stronger than the spring I I6 associated with the safety catch 60, so that no rotative movement of the bolt occurs. Instead, the safety catch :60 rotates in a counterclockwise direction relative to the keeper 32 to a retired position, in which the tooth may be moved past the keeper 32. As soon as the end of the safety catch 60 is passed by the upper bolt tooth, the spring 6 associated therewith is rendered effective to cause thesafety catch to return to the .active position, shown in Fig. 3, in which it is effective-to cooperate with the left-hand face of the upper bolt tooth 50a and positively prevent thedoor from again being fully opened without again actuating the cams, designated collectively as 26, to release the bolt 24.

If the door closing movement is continued beyond the safety position, just described, the slop- .ing face I20 of the keeper 32 is brought into engagement with the right-hand face of the upper bolt tooth 50a, and applies a positive rotative force to the bolt, 24. Due to the fact that the bolt holding effect of the cams results from the cooperation between the teeth thereof and the bolt faces and not from the strength of the biasing springs 82, it is possible to "utilize springs 82, which-are relatively'weak.

Accordingly, a minimum door-closing force is required to render the keeper :face effective to rotate the bolt 24 in :a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 3, 4 and '6. During such movementaleading face-640i aninner bolt tooth 52a bears against the rear edges of the cams and turns these cams to the position shown in Fig. 4 to positions corresponding to those shown in Fig. 10.

When the door reaches a substantially closed position, the just-mentioned inner bolt tooth face 64 passes beyond the heel of the shorter cam 30, permitting the latter to ride up'over the rounded ends of the cam engaging bolt face 66. As soon 2,374,223 5 as this action takes place, the spring 82 associated with the cam 80 becomes efiective to rotate the latter in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 10, and forcibly continues the rotation of the bolt 24 in a counterclockwise or door-closing direction. At slightly spaced stages in the continued door-closing movement, the bolt face 64 successively passes beyond the heels of the cams 18 and 16, rendering the springs 82 associated with these cams successively eifective to continue the counterclockwise or door-closing rotation of the bolt 24. The cams 76 and 18 may be expected, in the fully closed position of the door. to occupy the full blocking position described with reference to cam 80.

Reviewing the locking relations, it is noted that the insidedocking means comprising the roller I30 may be manually moved at any time from the lower locked position, shown in Fig. 5, to the upper unlocked position, shown in Fig. 6, and that this mechanism is yieldably retained by the spring I40 in either of these two positions. When in the lower position, the roller l 30 blocks rotation of the retracting member 30 and so renders the outside rollback mechanism ineiiective. The inside handle mechanism (not shown), which is disposed to be connected to the part I02 of the retracting member 30 is correspondingly rendered inefiective. A closing movement of the door, which causes a retraction of the holding cams 26 and a corresponding downward movement of the foot 94 (Fig. 5) serves to rotate the auxiliary link I44 and release the locking mechanism, if previously set in locking position to the unlocked position, shown in Fig. 6. The outside locking mechanism comprising the slide IE0 is selectively adjustable to lock the retracting member 30 against movement, so that the door may be positively locked from the-outside thereof.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the present invention provides an extremely effective door lock structure, which is simple and economical of manufacture, and which is exceptionally efiicient and satisfactory in operation. It will also be appreciated that the specifically described embodiment is illustrative and that various modifications, in the form, number and arrangement of the described parts may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In control means for a latch having an anchor, the combination of a rotatable spindle, rollback means comprising a pair of rollback elements on said spindle having openings through which the spindle passes so as to form loose but driving connections therebetween, rotation of said spindle from a normal position serving through the consequent movement of said rollback means to control said latch, and spring means including means coupled between the rollback means and said anchor for continuously urging said spindle to a normal position and further including means coupled between the respective said rollback elements effective during rotation of the spindle to act between said rollback elements and bias them relatively to each other in such direction as to cause them to bind on said spindle.

2. Structure according to claim 1, wherein the spring means constitutes a single spring having portions coupled between the rollback means and said anchoring means.

ROLLO MARPLE. 

